Accessory securing mechanism for portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

An accessory securing mechanism in electronic device includes a housing, an engaging member and a tether. The housing defines an assembling recess having an end wall, the end wall defines a latching hole. The engaging member includes a hanging end and a latching end. The latching end of the engaging member is latched into the latching hole, the hanging end is received in the assembling recess, the tether is affixed to the hanging end and exposed to the outside.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an accessory securing mechanism for aportable electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

A typical accessory securing mechanism has a through aperture defined ina housing of the portable electronic device, forming a hanging wall ofthe housing. To assemble an accessory such as a fob to the portableelectronic device, a chain or string of the fob is passed through thethrough hole and tied in some manner. However, the hanging wall maybreak if the fob is accidentally pulled.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Many aspects of the present accessory securing mechanism for portableelectronic device can be better understood with reference to thefollowing drawings. The components in the various drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover,in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the diagrams.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an accessory securing mechanismfor portable electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the accessory securingmechanism shown in FIG. 1 from another view.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an engaging member of the accessorysecuring mechanism shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an assembled, isometric view of the assembly structure shownin FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary accessory securing mechanism 100, which can beused in mobile phones and other portable electronic devices. Themechanism 100 includes an engaging member 10, a housing 20, a cover 30,and a tether 40. The engaging member 10 latches to the housing 20 andthe tether 40 hangs from the engaging member 10. The cover 30 engageswith the housing 20.

Referring further to FIGS. 2 and 3, the engaging member 10 includes ahanging end 11 and a latching end 13 integrally connected to the hangingend 11. The hanging end 11 is cylindrical and used to mount the tether40 therewith. The hanging end 11 defines a first through hole 111 alonga radial direction and a second through hole 113 along an axialdirection. The first through hole 111 and the second through hole 113communicate with each other for receiving the tether 40. The latchingend 13 includes two opposite latching blocks 130. Accordingly, a space14 is defined between the two latching blocks 130. Each latching block130 can be made of an elastic material such as rubber. Each latchingblock 130 includes a main portion 131, a first protruding flange 133,and a second protruding flange 135. The main portion 131 extends alongthe radial direction of the hanging end 11. The protruding flanges 133,135 are parallel with each other and protrude from the periphery of themain portion 131. A clamping gap 134 is defined between the protrudingflanges 133 and 135. The first protruding flange 133 is located adjacentto the hanging end 11 and the second protruding flange 135 is locateddistal to the hanging end 11. The second protruding flange 135 includesa first guiding surface 1351 and a second guiding surface 1353 formedthereon. The first guiding surface 1351 and the second guiding surface1353 are arranged back to back and both are slanted relative to the mainportion 131. The first guiding surface 1351 facilitates assembly of thelatching member 10 in the housing 20, and the second guiding surface1353 allows the engaging member 10 to be released when subjected to alarge pulling force, thereby preventing damage to housing 20 and itsconnecting parts.

The housing 20 includes a top wall 21 and a peripheral wall 23 aroundthe top wall 21. The top wall 21 defines a receiving cavity 212 at themiddle to receive a battery (not shown). The peripheral wall 23 isridged and includes a lower wall portion 232, and an upper wall portion234 protruding from the lower wall portion 232 and connecting with thetop wall 21. The lower wall portion 232 defines a plurality ofconnecting holes 2322 configured to receive connectors such as for USBcomponents. The upper wall portion 234 defines an assembling recess 236and a plurality of fixing holes 238. The assembling recess 236 runsthrough the top wall 21 and is enclosed by a bottom wall 2361 parallelwith the top wall 21, two opposite sidewalls 2362, and an end wall 2363perpendicular to the top wall 21. The end wall 2363 has substantiallythe same thickness as the width of the clamping gap 134 of the engagingmember 10. The end wall 2363 defines a through latching hole 2364communicating with the inside space of the housing 20. The latching hole2364 can engagably receive the engaging member 10. The cover isconfigured to latch in the fixing holes 238.

The cover 30 includes a plate portion 32 and a periphery 34 around theplate portion 32. The periphery 34 defines a cutout 342 at an end forreceiving the tether 40. The periphery 34 forms a plurality ofprotrusions 344 at the inner side for latching the fixing holes 238.

The tether 40 includes a string 42 and a slider 44 coiled around thestring 42. The string 42 is annular, and the slider 44 divides thestring 40 into two loops. The slider 44 can slide relative to the string42.

Referring further to FIG. 4, to assemble the mechanism 100, the engagingmember 10 is assembled into the assembling recess 236 of the housing 20.The latching end 13 aligns with the latching hole 2364 and the secondprotruding flange 135 resists against the latching hole 2364. Theengaging member 10 is pushed toward the latching hole 2364. The twolatching block 130 are guided by the first guiding surface 1351 tocompress along the radial direction and approached towards each other.Accordingly, the second protruding flange 135 passes through thelatching hole 2364. Thus, the first protruding flange 133 resistsagainst the end wall 2363 and the second protruding flange 135 latcheswith the end wall 2363, and the end wall 2363 is received in theclamping gap 134 of the engaging member 10. The engaging member 10 issecured in the housing 20, and the hanging end 11 is correspondinglyreceived in the assembling recess 236.

The tether 40 is installed, during which the string 42 is tied to thehanging end 11 by passing through the first through hole 111 and thesecond through hole 113. The cover 30 is assembled on the housing 20,covering the upper wall portion 232 of the housing 10. The cutout 342 ofthe cover 30 engages with the assembling recess 236, and the protrusions344 of the covers 30 latch into the fixing holes 238 of the housing 20.The accessory securing mechanism 100 is assembled.

The accessory securing mechanism 100 used in an electronic devicefacilitates an easy carrying of the electronic device. When the tether40 is pulled with a great enough force, the engaging member 10 isreleased from the assembling recess 236 guided by the second guidingsurface 1353. Thus, damage to the accessory securing mechanism 10 andother connecting parts can be avoided.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics andadvantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in theforegoing description, together with details of structures and functionsof various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changesmay be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, andarrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. An accessory securing mechanism, comprising: a housing defining anassembling recess, the assembling recess having an end wall, the endwall defining a latching hole; an engaging member having an hanging endand a latching end; and a tether; wherein the latching end of theengaging member is latched into the latching hole and the hanging end isreceived in the assembling recess, and the tether is affixed to thehanging end and exposed to the outside.
 2. The accessory securingmechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching end includes twoopposite latching blocks, and a space is formed therebetween.
 3. Theaccessory securing mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein eachlatching block includes a main portion extending from the hanging end, afirst protruding flange, and a second protruding flange, the twoprotruding flanges protrude from the periphery surface and are parallel.4. The accessory securing mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein thesecond protruding flange is located adjacent to a tail end of the mainportion and includes a first guiding surface and a second guidingsurface, the two guiding surfaces are arranged back to back and both areslanted relative to the main portion.
 5. The accessory securingmechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanging end is cylindricaland defines a first through hole along the radial direction thereof anda second through hole along the axial direction thereof, the two throughholes are interconnected for engaging with the tether.
 6. The accessorysecuring mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes atop wall and a peripheral wall around the top wall, the top wall definesa receiving cavity, the peripheral wall is ridged and includes a lowerwall portion and an upper wall portion connecting the top wall, theupper wall portion defines the assembling recess.
 7. The accessorysecuring mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the assembling recessis enclosed by a bottom wall parallel top wall, two opposite sidewallsand the end wall perpendicular to the top wall.
 8. The accessorysecuring mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the accessory securingmechanism includes a cover, the cover has a periphery, the periphery hasa cutout defined thereon, the cutout corresponds to the assemblingrecess of the housing.
 9. The accessory securing mechanism as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the upper wall portion of the housing defines aplurality of fixing holes thereon, the periphery of the cover formsprotrusions for latching into the fixing holes.
 10. The accessorysecuring mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tether includes astring and a slider coiled around the string, the slider separates thestring into two semi-loops and can slide relative to the string.
 11. Anaccessory securing mechanism, comprising: a housing defining anassembling recess, the assembling recess having an end wall, the endwall defining a latching hole; an engaging member having an hanging endand a latching end; a tether; and a cover defining a cutout; wherein thelatching end of the engaging member is latched into the latching holeand the hanging end is received in the assembling recess, and the tetheris affixed to the hanging end, the cover covers the housing and thecutout engages with the assembling recess, the tether exposed to theoutside through the cutout.
 12. The accessory securing mechanism asclaimed in claim 11, wherein the latching end includes two oppositelatching blocks, and a space is formed therebetween.
 13. The accessorysecuring mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein each latching blockincludes a main portion extending from the hanging end, a firstprotruding flange, and a second protruding flange, the two protrudingflanges protrude from the periphery surface and are parallel.
 14. Theaccessory securing mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein the secondprotruding flange is located adjacent to a tail end of the main portionand includes a first guiding surface and a second guiding surface, thetwo guiding surfaces are arranged back to back and both are slantedrelative to the main portion.
 15. The accessory securing mechanism asclaimed in claim 11, wherein the hanging end is cylindrical and definesa first through hole along the radial direction thereof and a secondthrough hole along the axial direction thereof, the two through holesare interconnected for engaging with the tether.
 16. The accessorysecuring mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the housing includesa top wall and a peripheral wall around the top wall, the top walldefines a receiving cavity, the peripheral wall is ridged and includes alower wall portion and an upper wall portion connecting the top wall,the upper wall portion defines the assembling recess.
 17. The accessorysecuring mechanism as claimed in claim 16, wherein the upper wallportion of the housing defines a plurality of fixing holes thereon, thecover forms a protrusion for latching into the fixing holes when thecover engages with the upper wall portion.